What do you want to be when you grow up?
It's a question we've heard since we were kids.
But the reality is that many of us
ask that very question throughout our entire lives.
If you dream of having a meaningful career, which
aligns with your true purpose and potential versus just
having a job, this is your time to consider
using a goal-setting technique called SMART goals.
I'm Sinéad, and I have come prepared today to share career
advice from our experts here at Indeed with all of you.
Coming up in this video, we'll share
the true connection between goals
and building a successful career.
We'll dive into what SMART goals are.
And I've got real-world examples to share with you, too.
Dreaming and accomplishing go hand in hand.
But they're not synonymous.
The difference-- SMART goals.
So be sure to stick around, because I've also
got a common mistake to share with you that so many of us
make.
And it can sabotage our efforts to achieve our goals.
All right, let's get started.
What are SMART goals?
SMART goals is a term used to help narrow
down all of those big ideas we have flowing around our brain
into achievable actions.
The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
The idea is that when you establish precise details
and of course, give yourself a deadline,
you create a clear plan, which will lead you
to your ideal result. Think of it
as turn-by-turn instructions on your navigation versus just
searching a broad geographical map.
Now, let's break this framework down.
The S in SMART stands for Specific.
The first step to creating your plan
is to be thoughtfully specific.
If you're using SMART goals to advance your career,
identify what you'd like to accomplish.
You can include goals like, find a new job
transition into a new field or receiving a promotion
at your current company.
So let's say you want to get promoted.
Instead of this vague aim, focus and clarify your goal
of getting a promotion by identifying the exact title
or role that you desire, the steps you will take,
and the full picture of what that dream looks like.
Yes, paint that picture.
For example, you wouldn't say, I want to climb the ladder.
You would say, I love the company I work for.
But I want to take on more leadership responsibilities.
I want to be promoted to manager of the customer success team
by January of next year by taking on two new projects
and discussing my plan with my boss
during our next performance evaluation.
If you were wanting to find a new job,
you would want to be as specific as possible here, too.
For example, you wouldn't say, hey, I want a new job.
You would say, I want to find a new job as a sales associate
within the next three months.
Now, it's worth mentioning here that for your own career
ambitions, you are both the architect and the doer.
In other words, a SMART goal might
include an entire team of people or multiple individuals.
In those instances, you would definitely
want to identify all the other players in your statement.
Before we move on, be sure to give us a thumbs up.
Hit that subscribe button and that notification bell
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And then head down to the comments,
and let us know what are some ways that you've
been able to set and accomplish your goals.
I mean, we can all learn something from each other.
And it's wonderful to hear tips and tricks that
have worked for you.
So head down to the comments, and let us know.
Next up is measurable.
Next, you need to set measurable goals or milestones
to track your goals' progress.
You can manage what you can measure.
For example, if your goal is to find a new job,
you can set a goal of applying to three new jobs a week
over the next three months.
Pursuing a salary increase is another perfect example
of how a goal benefits from targeting measurable metrics.
For example, you would not say this.
I want to make a lot of money, although, yes, trust me.
I get it.
That may be true.
There is a much better way to phrase
this goal to obtain tangible wants.
So you would say, in my annual reviews,
I will ask for salary increases of 5%.
Within the next three years, this
will lead to my target salary of $65,000.
OK, moving on, A is for Achievable or Attainable.
How many times have you been told to pursue your passions?
While it is noble to seek a profession that
aligns with your interests, it's critical to consider
your own abilities and realistic potential.
For example, it may be a dream of yours to play
professional basketball.
We've all been there.
But if you have not dedicated the time to practice and play,
it's unlikely you're going to make it to the pros.
But what if you're truly passionate about the game,
and you find so much enjoyment from the experience?
Well, that's awesome, because you
should know that there are other roles in the industry.
Besides being a player, be realistic,
and know how you can contribute.
It may not be achievable to say, I
want to be a pro basketball player.
Instead, you could say this.
I want to work for a professional basketball team.
And we can make this stronger by making the statement
specific and measurable.
To do this, you could say, I want
to secure an entry-level role in public relations
for a professional basketball team
within one year of graduating with my communications degree.
Sounds great, doesn't it?
Being realistic about the opportunities that
are currently available to you and setting
reasonable expectations is one way
to demonstrate professional maturity.
Instead of setting career goals based on pure passion,
you're now pursuing a career with purpose and meaning, which
includes your interests, but isn't too
narrow as to be impractical.
This naturally leads us to the next letter in our SMART goals.
R is for Relevant.
When setting goals, the success of achieving them
can largely depend on their relevance
to your values or long-term objectives.
You may be tempted to complete an easy, short-term goal.
But when creating a SMART roadmap,
it's important to ask yourself, does this step really get me
where I want to go?
What other options do I have that might not seem so obvious
but could be more fitting?
For example, let's say you are contemplating
going back to school and getting a degree
to satisfy long-held ambition.
Maybe you are thinking about going to law school
or ultimately getting an MBA.
If you've worked as a paralegal for a few years
and you haven't enjoyed the long hours or all that stress,
you might want to think twice about continuing
to pursue a career in law.
In this situation, a law degree may seem relevant.
But if you're finding the work unappealing,
then it may not be relevant to your long-term career goals.
So instead of saying, I want a profession with status,
really think through what status means to you.
And who are you trying to please?
If you are considering a career pivot,
start with exploring different options
and then connecting with others who
have gone down the paths that you're currently considering.
An example would sound like this.
Law and business are both prestigious industries.
Incorporating a specific, measurable, and attainable
information, you can clarify that goal and say,
I will talk to three lawyers and three corporate leaders
by this time next month.
I will ask them questions like, what type of person
does it take to be successful in your job?
And what do you wish you knew before you
entered your profession?
For more on how to change careers
with little or no experience, you
can check out this video right here.
After you've taken the time to explore
those prominent occupations, you now
have the information to understand
the relevance of your choices.
Adjust your goals.
Make them SMART.
And ask yourself, does this step really
get me to where I want to be in my future?
And yes, the future.
It seems daunting.
I know.
But don't worry.
This is leading us to our fifth and final letter
that is going to help making future goals all the more
attainable.
T is for Time-based.
Every specific, measurable, attainable, and relevant goal
must have a timeline.
And that's because if we don't harness a sense of urgency,
we often busy ourselves with daily tasks, which
are distractions in disguise.
I'm very guilty of this.
I understand.
So without target dates, we may never actually achieve
the future that we want.
It's important to have a timeline so that you
can keep track and hold yourself accountable by reaching
the milestones that you've already set.
By now, you know the drill.
Be explicit and realistic.
For example, you wouldn't set a SMART goal
to become a registered nurse by the end of the year
if you've just enrolled in a nursing program.
Instead of saying, I will change jobs, you would say,
within 30 days of completing my nursing program,
I will work for the large medical group in my hometown.
I'll be making at least $45 an hour
so that I can pay off my student loans in less than five years.
Doesn't that sound great?
Now, that also may sound a little too specific.
And you might want to include a bit more wiggle
room to adjust for the inevitable uncertainties.
What many of us fear when we lay out such a specific goal,
though, is not that there are too many details.
However, the real fear is that if we are explicit
and we list all these things we want to achieve, we could fail.
The good news, though, is that if you
see this fear as an obstacle, which can always be overcome,
you can succeed.
The first step in making any successful goal
is to amplify confidence and the faith you have in yourself.
And I get it.
This is hard to do, especially when you're already
in a period of uncertainty or when you've been rejected.
And who hasn't?
Many of us repeat the fears of inadequacy
over and over in our heads when we're feeling low.
So it's important to remember that when
you start to hear that voice say, you can't, you can.
All right, let's recap.
SMART goals are an acronym for the following.
S stands for Specific.
Get specific on what you'd like to accomplish.
M is for Measurable.
Track the progress of your goals.
A is for Achievable or Attainable.
Consider your abilities to make goals realistic.
R is for Relevant.
Set relatable goals that will bring you
closer to long-term success.
T is for Time.
Set a date to keep yourself on track
and hold yourself accountable.
A clear path for career growth isn't always obvious.
But by making it specific, measurable, attainable,
relevant, and time-bound you can drive your career
in the direction that you have always envisioned
and manifest your potential destiny.
If you believe in yourself, others will, too.
If you found this video helpful, be sure to give us a like,
so we know what's valuable to you.
And of course, be sure to subscribe to our channel,
and hit that notification--
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--bell so that you never miss our weekly career advice.
For even more tips for working from home--
oh, yeah-- you can click right over here.
I need some of those, too.
I'm Sinéad Dupree.
Thank you guys so much for joining me today.
And I'll see you next time.
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